If you're reading this, then allow me to welcome you to Guess that Game, a monthly feature loosely based off of the game of 20 Questions. The first thing you might want to do is make sure you are viewing this with the website lights turned on (the switch is located at the top of the website near the search box). If you don't...the clues and answer might be inadvertently revealed as you read this.
Last episode was another successful episode that seemed to hit the mark as some got it fairly quick, others struggled with it...but most guessed correctly somewhere in the middle. Perfect. That's always my goal. Regardless of whether you guess it correctly in one clue or you need all of the clues, my hope is you learn something about the game maybe you didn't know before. Let's see how you do with the September episode of Guess That Game.
(ta da - the light switch)
Twenty Questions is a spoken parlor game which encourages deductive reasoning and creativity. It originated in the United States and escalated in popularity during the late 1940s when it became the format for a successful weekly radio quiz program. In the traditional game, one player is chosen to be the answerer. That person chooses a subject but does not reveal this to the others. All other players are questioners. They each take turns asking a question which can be answered with a simple "Yes" or "No." In variants of the game multiple state answers may be included such as the answer "Maybe." The answerer answers each question in turn. If a questioner guesses the correct answer, that questioner wins and becomes the answerer for the next round. If 20 questions are asked without a correct guess, then the answerer has stumped the questioners and gets to be the answerer for another round.
However, instead of each of you asking me 20 questions, I have come up with 20 clues about a game whose identity you are trying to guess. The clues start out rather generic and progressively get more revealing, so if you have to read all of the clues, the answer should be fairly obvious by the end (or if you read only the 20th clue, you have a fairly good chance of guessing it, but that kind of defeats the purpose). Your goal is to guess the game after reading as few of the clues as possible starting in numerical order with Clue #01.
NOTICE: Of course I have no way of verifying the integrity of your answer, so should you choose to leave a comment with your score, it is based off of the honor system. I'll take you at your word.
Now, you might notice that except for Clue #1, the rest of them are blank. How are you supposed to read the rest of them? Ah, using the magic of technology...the clues are there, however the font is white so the text appears invisible. In order to view them, all you have to do is highlight the text by clicking and holding the cursor on the text and dragging the cursor over each clue. This is an extremely easy process that most of you are undoubtedly familiar with. Oh, as a reminder - if you're viewing the GI website with the lights off, obviously this isn't going to work since the font color is reversed. I recommend turning the lights on when viewing this blog.
The same concept applies to the answer which is found at the very end of the blog.
Well, I think that's it. I've stated the goal and provided the instructions, all that's left is for you to read the following clues, in order, and guess the mystery game in as few clues as possible.
Good luck, you'll need it!
GOAL: Guess the game by reading as few of the clues as possible, starting at #1.
CLUES:
1. This game was released in 1993.
2. This game was available for the SNES and Sega Genesis.
3. Music for the game was composed by Joseph McDermott.
4. The developer wanted to include a battery save in this game but couldn’t afford it.
5. In 2011, there were talks a film based on this game was in the works.
6. This game is a “run and gun” video game.
7. One or two players can play the game together.
8. The game was well received for its graphical style, humor and deep gameplay.
9. It became a cult classic years after its release.
10. The game was originally being developed by the developer recently purchased by Disney.
11. You can pick up various items in this game including keys, health packs, and potions.
12. You navigate several landscapes including suburban neighborhoods, shopping malls, pyramids, and haunted castles.
13. It was published by a company whose name is a conjunction of the names Kagemasa Kozuki, Yoshinobu Nakama, and Tatsuo Miyasako.
14. The antagonist is a mad scientist with a PhD and a name that is also a body part.
15. The game had a number of features censored because of violence and gore.
16. There are 55 stages including seven optional bonus levels.
17. The game was once described as a "second-rate horror movie" version of Contra.
18. You can play as either Zeke or Julie.
19. The game had a sequel released in 1994 titled Ghoul Patrol.
20. The goal of the game is to rescue your surviving neighbors.
CONCLUSION:
So, how did you do?
Lucky Dog (1-5 clues)
Veteran (6 - 10 clues)
Commoner (11 - 15 clues)
Rookie (16 - 20 clues)
You might've noticed the first five clues were very generic and could fit any number of games, so if you managed to get it in five or fewer guesses, then you just got lucky. The next five clues include some obscure facts and more specific information about the game, so if you got it in 6 - 10 clues, you really know your video games. All of the clues after number 10 are fairly specific to the game, so if it took you 11 - 15 clues you're a commoner. The final five clues are very specific to the game with some hints that people naturally associate with this particular game. If it takes you 16 - 20 clues, better luck next time...NOOB! (I'm only kidding.)
I hope you've enjoyed this installment in my Guess That Game series. I tried striking a perfect balance with game choice and difficulty and think it's a fair contest. Perhaps a bit on the easy side, but I'll let you all be the judge of that. Good luck and enjoy.
ANSWER BELOW:
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Cheers.